Silence loomed over the pair, as Jongin escorted Aeri once again into his apartment. 

His arm was protectively placed over her shoulder, and her head was hidden in his chest, letting the warmth  comfort her shivering heart.   He didn't bother turning on the lights, as they both sat on the couch, their bodies at close proximity.    "Let me get you a drink," he whispered gently, but he was unable to leave as she hugged him even tighter, letting her vulnerability take over her rational self. Something about his embrace warmed the girl's heart tremendously, and his chest that rose up and down at a steady pace caused her to calm down excessively.   "Don't," her voice cracked, her eyes dry from the stream of tears from before. Heck, she could stay in this same position forever if she had a choice.  Jongin gladly complied, as he shifted to make their position a little more comfortable, with his warm breath grazing her hair.   "Who was that before?" he asked suddenly, breaking the peaceful silence they shared. He couldn't help it, being a curious being, he wanted to know the secrets she was hiding from him. She wanted to be the one who she shared all her secrets with.   He noticed how she tensed, and shuddered when she replied in a soft yet audible voice, "My stepdad."   No more words were shared, when everything in Jongin's mind clicked. The first conclusion that came to mind was that she had been abused, probably ually, by her stepdad. The mere thought caused a burning fire to ignite in his heart, one full of rage and determination. Then, his mind started running wild, and haunting images of Aeri crying in pain and sorrow appeared. Unknowingly, his grip around her petite body tightened.   "He hurt you, didn't he?" he asked in a low and menacing tone, his heart aching as he saw the girl on the verge of having a mental breakdown.   He took her silence as a yes, and he shut his eyes, biting his lip in anger. Blood started seeping out of his thick lips, and she cocked her head up. Ever so slowly, she raised her hand and wiped away the residue blood from his mouth. She then wiped it on his shirt, a little flustered because she didn't know if it was appropriate to do that.   Jongin's eyes widened in shock and surprise as she did that, and he unknowingly touched the place on his lips that she had touched, feeling the corner of his lips going upwards. His heart started to beat that tad bit faster, and his cheeks started to flush a light pink. It had only been a small touch, yet his body reacted to it immediately.   Aeri looked down to the floor, starting to wiggle out of his embrace, as she stated in a grateful tone, "Thanks for helping me before, Jongin-ssi, I really appreciate it. I guess I should take my leave now."   Watch her leave him again? He couldn't and wouldn't let her do that, so upon instinct, he hugged her. This hug was different to the other embraces, as both their faces came in contact with the other's shoulder. Their bodies were directly against each other, and they both could've sworn that they could clearly hear each other's beating hearts.   "You're not safe, Ae